Ear lobe piercing device



June 8, 1965 s. COREN ETAL 3,187,751

EAR LOBE PIEHCING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1961 D. T m WW s R mm 0 MM D 3 SD N 8 E1 9 4 mW I .0 n. ,m

2 a am w m: m ///x 4 l 6 q 2 6 0 I m we RNEYS June 8, 1965 s. COREN ETAL EAR LOBE PIERCING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

INVENTORS SIMON COREN BY DAVlD RSTENTIFORD ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates to surgical instruments and more particularly to surgical instruments for piercing a human ear lobe and inserting an object therethrough for the purpose of creatingan earring receiving canal.

According to the fashion dictates of the times it is frequently desirable for women to cause their ear lobes to be pierced for the purpose of receiving a suitable ear ornament. Two advantages result from this procedure. First, the ear ornament or earring is less liable to become dislodged and to be lost than is the case where earrings are used which are frictionally engaged on the ear lobe. Second, the earring requires substantially less supporting structure attached thereto and consequently may be constructed of a smaller size without exposing unsightly clamps or brackets.

According to the teachings of the prior art, it has been customary to pierce the womans ear lobe by means of a needle or other cutting instrument and thereafter to insert in the ear lobe an earring or other foreign object. The earring or other foreign object was allowed to remain in the ear until the canal caused by the piercing had healed, whereupon it was removed and other earrings could be substituted as desired in its place.

Where the car was pierced by means of a sharp needle alone, the procedure was relatively painful for the woman and ditficult for the doctor. The possibilities for infection and other undesirable results such as production of an unsightly scar generally have caused a large percentage of doctors to advise women against having their ears pierced when this method was the only one available.

Another disadvantage to this type of ear piercing is the fact that the foreign object or earring had to be inserted in the pierced ear lobe before the piercing needle was withdrawn. This required stretching the ear to accommodate the additional material and was generally unsatisfactory.

Under the teachings of the prior art, devices have been constructed to accomplish the piercing of ears. These generally unwieldy and cumbersome devices have proven unsatisfactory with the medical profession and have not been used to any great extent. The devices constructed under the prior art almost universally divorced the piercing and earring threading steps of the operation.

It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide a device for piercing the ear lobe which is easy to operate, small in size, accurate and safe.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a device for inserting a wire or stud into the ear which may be left therein until the canal has'healed and which device accomplishes the piercing and inserting operation in one step.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a novel stud or wire which is constructed to be driven through the ear lobe to create the desired canal and which may be left therein until the canal has healed.

In the practice of our invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, we construct an ear lobe piercing device in the form of a hand instrument having opposed jaws which are movable toward and away from each other between which the ear lobe to be pierced may be clamped. One of the jaws is provided with means for receiving a stud or wire which has a sharpened point, and for driving the wire through the ear lobe while it is clamped between the opposed jaws. The other of the. opposed'jaws has means for receiving the end of the wire which passes through the ear lobe which means are constructed in such fashion that the instrument-may then be easily removed from position adjacent the ear lobe leaving the wireinserted therethrough. 7

It is a feature of our invention that the element which pierces the ear and the element which is leftin the ear until the canal heals are one and the same.

It is a further feature of our invention that means are provided for securely clamping the ear in proper position prior to insertion of the wire. I

It is yet anotherfeature of our invention that the wire is driven through the ear lobe by means of an instrument having a spring loaded plunger and that actuation of the plunger to drive the wire through the ear lobe may be effected by the doctor using the same hand with which he is holding the instrument. I

These and other objects and features of our invention will appear as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

FIG. 1 is a side view of an instrument embodying our invention; r Y 7 FIG. 2 is, an end view looking toward the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the line s 3 of FIG. 2; 7

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of our invention in position for piercing the lobe of an ear;

FIG. 5 is an end view looking toward the left "in FIG. 4;

. FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of use with our device; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the wire and clip of a wire and clip for FIG. 6.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings for a more particular description of our invention, we provide an ear lobe piercing device as seen in FIG. 1 having two opposed jaws 10 and 12. The jaws 1t and 12 are mounted for parallel movement towards and away from each other. This movement is accomplished by providing a pair of handle elements 14 and 16 suitably curved toward their lower extremity to fit in the palm of the hand. The handles 14 and 16 are pivotally connected by pivot means 18 as in conventional pliers and are provided with upper portions 20 and 22..

The jaws 10 and 12 are pivotally connected to the upper portions 20 and 22 respectively by means of bolts 24 and 26 provided with nuts 28 and 30. The bolts 24 and 26 are equally spaced from the pivot 18. The jaws Ill and 12 are provided with lower portions 32 and 34 as seen in FIG. 4 which extend through the handles 14 and 16 respectively. Parallel pins 36 and 38 are provided through the handles 14 and 16 in the path of the jaws 1t and 12, equally spaced from the pivot 18. Upwardly extending slots 40 and 42 are provided in the lower portions 32 and 34 respectively to receive the pins 36 and 38 and to permit vertical movement of the jaws relative to the pins. Coiled springs 44 and 48 are connected between the lower portions 32 and 34 of the jaws 1t and 12 respectively and the extreme lower ends of the associated handles 14 and 16. The springs are connected to the handles 14'and 16 by inserting the end of the spring within the handle, which may be hollow or drilled out for the purpose,-as'indicated at 50 in FIG. 4. i

It will now be observed that through the action of the springs 44 and 48 the device will normally assume the open position of FIG. 1. Upon movement of the handles 14 and 16 toward each other, the jaws 1 0 and 12 will be brought together as shown in FIG. 4. The

movement of the jaws and 12 toward and away from each other 'will be parallel at all times. due to the restraining action of the pins fifi and 38 which are free to travelonly in the slots 40 and 42.

Positioned between the jaws 10 and 12 :is a pressure plate 52. The pressure plate 52 is mounted to the jaw '12 by a first rod 54 and a second rod 56. The pressure plate 52 is secured to the rods 54 and 56 by any suitable means such as soldering and the ends of the rods which are located adjacent the jaw 12 are secured thereto as by insertion in a drilled hole and soldering. V

The rod 56'extends through the pressure plate 52 in" selected so that in extended position the outer wall 99 surrounding the bore v88 will be located adjacent but not touching the pressure plate 52. The downwardly e7.-

- tending slot 6 6 in the plate 52, is of sufficient width to the form of an extension 58. The jaw 10 is provided with a transverse passage within which axial movement of the extension 58 is possible. The passage 60 is enlarged in diameter at its end nearer the pressure plate 52 to provide a cylindrical bore 62. A coiled spring 64 is positioned within this bore surrounding the extension 58-and with one end thereof adjacent a shoulder 61 formed at the juncture of passage 60 and bore .62 and withthe other end adjacent the pressure plate 52.' The e coiled spring 64 aids in providing easy opening of the device from closed position.

The uppermost portion of the pressure plate-52 is provided with a downwardly extending slot 66 'so that the Wire hereinafter to be described may pass through the pressure plate 52 without coming into contact therewith.

In combination with our ear lobe piercing device. we employ a specially constructed wire or stud having a head portion 68 which is generally cylindrical in configuration. Integrally formed with the head 68 is an axially extending shaft 70 provided with a sharp point 7 2.. An annular groove 74 is formed around. the shaft 70 adjacent the tip 72. The wire, as this stud element is generally known, may be constructed of any suitable material but is preferably constructed 'of gold. The diameter of the shaft 70 is that of the desired canal throughthe ear lobe.

A clip element 76 is providedfor insertion on the end of the wire having two opposed arms 78 and 80 which exert a pressure upon theshaft' 70 after it is passed through the clip 76. The arms 78 and 80 serve to lock the clip 76 upon the end of the wire by engagement of the arms 78 and 80 within the annular groove 74 pro-' vided between the shaft and point of the wire.

It will be understood that one of the features of our invention is that the wire above described is used to both pierce the ear lobe and to serve as the earring or stud left in the ear lobe to facilitate formation of the desired canal.

In order to insert the wire through the ear lobe. driving mechanism indicated generally at 32 is provided. As seen in section in FIG. 3, the driving mechanism 82 comprises a tubular barrel 84 horizontally mounted on top of the jaw 12. Slidably mounted within the barrel 84 is a driver 86 having a bore 88 at its end for receiving the head portion 68 of the wire. The bore 88 is dimensioned such that the wire will be securely but not tightly held therein with the shaft 70 of the wire coaxially disposed with respect to the driver 86. It will be noted that the depth of the bore 88 is selected to be substantially the same as the length of the head 68 of the wire. Since the wire is held in place only by residing in the bore 88, the length of the head and depth of the bore .must be suflicient to prevent wobble of the wire.

The other end of the driver 86 isreduced in diameter to form a shank 90 whichgextends slidably through a plate 92 closing the outer end of the barrel 84 and terminates in a knob 94 which may be screw threaded thereon.

A flange 96 extends from the shaft 90 for sliding fit within the barrel'84. A coiled spring 98 is positioned around the shaft 90 with one end residing against the flange 96 and the other end residing against the end plate 92. The coiled spring 98 provides the driving force for inserting permit passage therethrough of the shaft 70 of the wire but is not sufliciently wide to permit passage of the head 68 thereof. j i

In order to actuate the driver 86 a trigger 102 is provided having a lower handle portion 104 and an upper latching arm 10b. The trigger 102 is pivotally connected to the jaw 12 .at pivot point108. An opening is provided in the bottom of the barrel 84'to receive the latch member 106 which normally assumes the position of FIG. 3 extending within the .barrel 84. This is due to the action of a spring loaded pressure pin 111 which is slidably positioned in the jaw 12 and bears against the undersurface of the arm 104 of the trigger 102.

In order to cock the driver 86 anannular wedgedshaped circumferential groove 112 is provided around the driver 86 adjacent the flange 96. The groove 112 is formed by providing a tapered portion 114 in the driver 86 tapering from the full diameter of, the driver 86'to the smaller diameter-of the shaft 90 and terminating at the flange 96.

The latch portion 196 of the trigger 102 is positioned to extend into the barrel 84 a suflicient distance to reside in the wedge-shaped groove 112 and bear against the flange 96 when it is positioned adjacent thereto. In order to cock the device the driver 86 is Withdrawn away from the pressureplate 52 by drawing upon the knob 94 until the latch member 106 is engaged in the annular groove 112. This position is initially selected such that when the driver is cocked in such fashion only the shaft portion 70 of the wire extends beyond the jaw 12, as seen in FIG. 4.

To actuate the driver the doctor need only depress the handle 1G4 of the trigger 102 thereby lowering the latch portion 106 thereof and withdrawing it from the annular groove 112. The coiled spring 98 will then abruptly move the driver 86 and associated wire toward the opposed jaw 10.

The jaw 10 is provided at its upper portion with a cylindrical portion 116 which is axially aligned with the barrel 84. A downwardly extending cut 118 is formed in the cylindrical portion 116 to receive the end of the wire after it has passed through the ear lobe.

In order to complete the instrument a pair of finger grips 120 and 122 are proyided. These are positioned upon the handles 16 and 14 respectively to facilitate holding of the device.

The mode of operation ofour earlobe piercing device is as follows:

A wire is first sterilized, It will be noted that since the wire engages the driver only in the bore 38, the driver may be easily sterilized as by swabbing the bore 88 with alcohol. The instrument is then cocked by pulling out on the knob 94 at the end of the driver and compressing the spring 98 until the latch portion ofthe trigger is engaged in the annular groove formed in the driver. The wire is then inserted into the bore 88 formed in the driver by positioning the head 68 of the wire therein with antisepticconditions preserved. The loaded and cocked instrument is then taken in the hand and the ear lobe to be pierced is fitted in the space between the pressure plate 52 and the jaw 10. The handles of the device are then squeezed together until the ear lobe is firmly grasped between the jaw 10 and the pressure plate. It will be noted that as the ear is grasped it is also stretched slightly in the area in which the wire will be inserted due to being compressed between the pressure plate and the jaw 10. It will be noted that during positioning of the ear lobe in the device the location of the preposed canal may be accurately selected. 7

The handle 104 on the trigger is then pressed slightly toward the jaw 12 until the latch portion of the trigger is disengaged from the annular groove in the driver. The action of the coiled spring then forces the wire through the ear lobe. The coiled spring is initially selected to perform this piercing operation in a quick eificient fashion.

The Wire being inserted through the ear lobe, it only remains necessary to again draw on the knob 94 to disengage the head of the Wire from the bore in the driver and further to release the pressure exerted upon the ear lobe between the jaw 10 and pressure plate 52 slightly and then to draw the instrument downwardly away from the ear lobe allowing the ear lobe and the wire to pass upwardly, the wire passing through the slot 66 in the pres sure plate 52 and the slot 118 in the receiving portion 116. It will be noted that the head portion 68 of the wire will be spaced away from the ear by at least the thickness of the pressure plate 52.

The clip 76 is positioned for insertion of the point 72 of the shaft 70 of the wire until the arms 78 and 80 engage the annular groove 74 therein. At this point the wire is securely positioned through the ear lobe and would normally be left therethrough for a period of time. This period of time would be dictated by prevailing surgical opinion.

Since many minor variations in the device of our invention could be devised by a person skilled in the art, it is not our intention to limit our invention to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification. Rather, it is our intention to limit our invention only by the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Apparatus for driving an ear piercing stud through an ear lobe comprising: first and second jaws pivotally mounted for parallel relative movement; spring means for urging said jaws apart; a pressure plate attached to and spaced from said first jaw in parallel relation thereto, said pressure plate movable with said first jaw toward said second jaw; means for limiting pressure plate movement toward said second jaw; a cylinder normally mounted on the free end of said first jaw; a piston slidably carried within said cylinder having means on the end thereof to releasably retain an ear piercing stud; spring means for biasing said piston toward said second jaw; cocking means for compressing said spring means; trigger means for releasing said spring means to drive said piston toward said second jaw; and said pressure plate and said second jaw provided at their free ends with downwardly extending slots in axial alignment with said cylinder and ear piercing stud retaining means whereby said apparatus can be withdrawn from an ear lobe after the piston driving and cocking operations.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 234,881 11/80 McAlpine 128-329 320,991 6/85 Westcott.

511,952 1/94 Hubash 128-330 2,555,133 5/51 Horstmann 128-329 2,593,110 4/52 Crane et a1 128-329 2,713,863 7/55 Handerson 128-330 2,798,491 7/57 Samuels 128-330 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,597 1903 Great Britain.

765,220 1/57 Great Britain.

527,365 7/56 Canada.

559,350 6/58 Canada.

95,452 12/97 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner. 

